Guess what? Stephenie Meyer doesn’t hate you!

Last night my twitter feed was blowing up with anger over an interview Stephenie Meyer had during Austenland press with Variety. She was asked:

Variety: What about a return to “Twilight?”

Stephenie: I get further away every day. I am so over it. For me, it’s not a happy place to be.

HOLY CRAP. WHAT A BIATCH. I FEEL LIKE AFTER RIPPING OFF CARLISLE’S HEAD SHE GRABBED ONE OF HIS FANGS AND STABBED ME IN THE NECK, DRAINED MY BLOOD THEN JOINED THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH PEOPLE AT MY FUNERAL BUT HELD A SIGN THAT SAID “GOD HATES TWILIGHT FANS.”

Actually I don’t feel ANY of the above. Here is why:

Someone asked her at an Austenlandpress event about Twilight. Again. I sat in on a few interviews with Stephenie on Monday & read a few others. Everyone asked about Twilight (Even me. I asked when she’s publishing Midnight Sun*) At an Austenland event.

Stephenie Meyer has been living, breathing and CREATING Twilight since 2003. Remember when we celebrated the 10 year anniversary of her dream? I can tell you as someone who ran a Twilight website for 4 years, it was exhausting. As sad as I was to say good-bye, I was glad to be done writing with LTT. Yes, there are days I miss it (yesterday, for one). Yes, I will probably cry in November when I have no Twilight premiere to attend. But you know what I don’t miss? The books. The movies. The drama. Which leads me to….

What Stephenie Meyer didn’t say:

Stephenie never said she’s over her fans. She said she is over Twilight. I bet that means: The books. The movies. ROBSTEN (She didn’t say that either but COME ON. AREN’T WE ALL?) The same questions over and over again (Why did you make the cast wear those contacts they complain about all the time? Tell us again about your dream about the Meadow! How did it feel to have someone leak Midnight Sun?) She can’t talk to anyone or attend a press event for another movie without Twilight being brought up. She probably can’t walk down the street in her hometown without someone whispering something like “There’s the woman who gave us Edward Cullen.”

Can you blame her? For being “over it?” For it not being her “happy place?” Stephenie Meyer is talking about a new project she’s excited about (I mean, the girl loves her some Mr. Darcy) and people want to talk Edward Cullen. I can’t imagine how frustrating that is- to not be allowed to move on.

Let’s not make this a thing. Stephenie Meyer is legitimately one of the kindest, most sincere people I’ve met and she shouldn’t be crucified for being honest about how she feels about something she created- for something she has the right more than ANYONE to feel. I am forever grateful to this woman for having a dream about a sparkly vampire in a meadow over 10 years ago. My life changed as a result of that dream. I have friendships I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for that dream. I’ve dragged cardboard cut outs of movie stars to red carpetsbecause of that dream.

But I’m ready to move on. She should be allowed to too.

Speaking of moving on, can we please get excited to talk about Austenland? I have some GREAT interviews to share from Monday plus we’re reviewing the film. And can I tell you how HOT JJ Feilds was when I sat in on a round table interview on Monday? Yummmm

What do you think? Are you taking the quote personally? Can you understand how after all that Stephenie has been through she might, gasp, be over Twilight?

THANK YOU. People are getting all bent out of shape over nothing. I get that Twilight might always be what she’s best known for, but for that to be all anyone wants to talk to her about from now until forever, no matter what project she’s working on, is ridiculous. We know how much she loves her fans.

can you imagine your first success being your BIGGEST success? like… if she constantly compares life to Twilight or lives in the Twilight life– EVERYTHING will be a let down. sooooooo she can’t

Sisterpenguin

Moving on from your past? Isn’t That Normal??

I read the Variety interview and thought “Sounds like a perfectly reasonable but sensationalised quote to me”.
Stephenie didn’t say she wished she’d never written/produced them. Nothing about being over the fandom. Just “next please”.

I’m grateful she wrote Twilight so I got to meet some fantastic folk through them (and a few crazies just for some colour).

I did NOT take it personally. While the Twi-hoopla was going on I got tired of it! I was a blogger and stopped blogging cause I was tired of it ALL. And so when Stephanie says she’s over it….I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMENT. There’s more to her than Edward and Bella and to be constantly asked about it….irksome. Like you said Stephanie is really nice. I met her a few times and she gave me some great advice and encouragement that makes me cry to this day.
As a fan….I’m ok with her being over it. I want her to tap into her artistic side and let her freak flag fly!

Agreed. It was annoying to see everyone complain about that. At least we had Twilight.

Goldberrybecca

She is Normal! At least here, and she is always cool. She keeps it real. Moving on rocks, especially when it evolves more fun books and movies! I will always be thankful for her dream and how my life has changed and the folks I’ve met, but we have moved on, the fan base needs to let her. I am SO excited about Austenland!

Yay! Thank you! Marking my calendar for 9/13 when it FINALLY gets here. There better be a showing late enough to take a pack of friends after my kids are asleep!

Heather

Agreed! It was sad seeing them hate on her for wanting to move on.

Tania

For her to say that Twilight isn’t a “happy place to be” is actually quite rude. That is what made HER! I can imagine all the drama and Robsten crap she’s had to endure over the years but she needs to remember where she came from – and that’s TWILIGHT! Without it Stephenie Meyer would still be a nobody writing stories hoping one day to get noticed. And Twilight made her get noticed. Her other books so far have paled in comparison – The Host – LezBeHonest…was super slow and hard to get into! And the movie (which wasn’t very good – since we are being so honest) only became what it was because she wrote it and…dun,duh,da: TWILIGHT! For her to say that she’s “over it” – uh – what? Ok – how about you give back your large paycheck you’ve since earned since your so “over it”! Guess what Stephenie Meyer? I’m pretty sure I’m over you. Thanks for the great memories. Buh-bye!

D_E

What happened to the thumbs down button?!

Sisterpenguin

The right arrow head under the statement. Do it, do it now

TeamJacobEdward

but it identifies you as the down-thumb-er…. you must do so shamelessly

TeamJacobEdward

Hmmm or maybe not….. I see a down-thumb arrow and no name pops…. interesting.

Sisterpenguin

That’s me – shameless with the thumbs

Sisterpenguin

I’m avoiding doing a job, that’s why I’m bothering to respond:

Just because an accomplishment “made” Stephenie doesn’t mean it has to be the happiest place on earth for her. She has children, family, friends, other interests, good grief she may even have a life!
And she’s not an idiot – I’m sure she’s fully aware of the opportunities that Twilight has given her and is grateful but wishes to move on.

As we all need to

Bubs

Do we all really need to move on ???? Can’t we stay just a “little” while longer ???
They’re still my favourite books EVA……

MrsKowski

Did you finish a college or university course? Did you do it right after high school? I’m sure after 8+ years of school, studying for tests, handing in papers and writing exams you were probably “over” being a student. Probably looking forward to starting a new job and not having to look at another classroom. Depending on what you became, theoretically that schooling “made you what you are”. Being over it doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate those teachers or the valuable lessons learned (i.e. it is difficult to write an exam when you go straight from the kegger to the exam hall). But that doesn’t change that it was a period of time in your life and you’re ready to move on to the next chapter …not in school.
How is that so hard to understand? Why is Stephanie unable to move on to the next chapter in her life? Maybe writing more successful books isn’t the next chapter, maybe producing movies is. Whatever the next chapter is for her, she’s just as entitled to it as you are to start that new job after finishing school.

Back to the point of my post: Your responses might be valid…. if she offended YOU personally or Twilight fans in general. She dind’t. Twilight isn’t a person. Twilight is a thing that she created. She can not be happy with it anymore if she wants.

Errr…

Actually, The Host is pretty awesome. And she never said she regrets writing Twilight or wants fans to get over it, she just said she’s ready to move on to something new. Which is what creative people do.

MrsKowski

I saw some nastiness spewing on my twitter feed briefly last night but I really didn’t know what it as about (lets face it, I’m outta the loop).

That’s almost embarrasing that people, especially people in the business, don’t understand that the presser was to promote a new project. Why would she continue to want to discuss a project that has LONG been discussed and re-discussed.

Even I’m smart enough to recognize that when I line up at an Austenland event to have her sign my twilight book (I must be the ONLY person without a signed book, right?) I’ll also bring an Austenland DVD for her to sign as well.

I should admit, while I’m totally over the movies and the media attention, the books still make my heart soft and squishy. Mostly because they remind me of the fabulous ladies brought into my life but they also transport me to another time and place …a place that is all meadowy and sparkly. Bekah, if you’re tired of your books …you can send them my way. Particularly the one that is signed. xo

Actually.. i shouldn’t say I’m tired of the books.. I don’t think I’ve read any of them since….. Maybe BD part 1 movie time OR it could have even been eclipse.

i wonder what that would feel like..

maybe i’ll live blog my re-read feels in a few months….

TeamJacobEdward

Do it!

BeaDee

I re-read right after baby was born this spring… ’cause I can basically read them while sleeping… and they’re still fun. Not as compelling as the first billion reads, but fun. Sparkly.

Lorena

I have the PDFs if that is easier for you 😉

Lorena

You’re not the only one without a signed book. I don’t actually own any of the Twilight books, so no, you’re not the only one. 🙂 Also, she totally dissed me at Fancamp (along with SissyP) so I basically already hate her and am over her 😉
(ps-yes, this is my way of saying, “If you have extra twilight books you’re going to donate, feel free to donate them to me.”)

Lalizzy

And this is why we can’t have anything nice. I read the books, saw the movies with my friends, we laughed, we cried, we oogled boys to young for us and then made fun of ourselves. And now we have moved on. It’s ok for Stephenie to move on and even have a ‘not a happy place’ feelings about it (and totally understandable). It doesn’t change how I feel.

I appreciate your last sentence – because it doesn’t change how I feel and what I feel about the other wonderful books and movies I’ve come to love due to the Twi-experience.

TeamJacobEdward

Yeah, everyone just pisses all over it.

Errr…

THANK YOU! I’ve been really disappointed by my fellow Twilight fans today, demanding apologies and acting like Stephenie Meyer just ran over their puppy. Can you really blame her if Twilight isn’t her happy place anymore? You can’t even mention it without SOMEONE sneering or scoffing about it. I’d be ready to move on to something new, too!

Same here! She’s one of the three authors that inspired me to write. Now, because of it, I’m an author.

Heather

Stephenie should be able to move on. You can’t blame her for getting tired of being asked the same quesions. I’d get sick of it too. She wants to move on, so let her. No need to hate on her. This is just silly.

guest

No hate, I can understand wanting to move on but her wording leaves much to be desired…I believe her words sound dismissive of all the love she has gotten over the years. She could have worded it better….just my opinion…

I’m fine with her saying she is “over it”. I’m sure it was a long and stressful journey. After some years pass she can probably rediscover all the wonderful blessings Twilight brought to her and her family and have some peace with the whole experience. What I can’t understand is why she would paint Twilight in such an ugly and negative light in this interview? It’s not a happy place?? That doesn’t make sense. As the author she should protect and cherish the characters she created for the rest of her life! No matter what she went through with the media the one true and constant positive should be the books themselves and the characters in them. I’m just shocked and saddened to read she would even consider killing them all off in a 3 paragraph blog post? Seriously?? These characters have not only put her where she is today but will provide financial security for her and her children for the rest of their lives as well. She should be humble and appreciative of everything Twilight, and the Twilight fandom, has given her over the last several years. She wouldn’t be making movies of any type if it weren’t for people like me backing her. What’s the old saying?? Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. I truly hope and pray she doesn’t write another word about Twilight while her heart is in such a dark place. What a sad way to end such a wonderful journey for so many people. Twilight will forever be my happy place! 🙂

Errr…

That’s not what she said, though. She said it’s not a happy place FOR HER and that at this point if she writes any more about Twilight it would just be a blog post summing up what she had planned would happen. Nothing about not appreciating the success Twilight has brought her or killing everyone off. Sheesh!

robine

No, she stated, flippantly, it would be a 3 paragraph summary of who died written on her blog. It was a snotty comment. I get that she wants to move on and be taken seriously in other areas. The only reason The Host did not flop bigger than it did is because of her dedicated, income earning, fan base. J.K. Rowling would NEVER write a 3 paragraph summary on what became of her beloved characters. Many authors, that I follow, and who make much less than Stephanie, are more gracious to their fans. Janet Evanovich has a huge following, yet she takes the time to write a blog, tour all of the time, write a newsletter. Sarah Gruen friends her fans on fb and tells us about her life. When I met Stephanie she came across as bored and jaded. I spent thousands of dollars on Twilight. I flew to LA and went to many conventions, etc. I wanted to like her. I wanted to believe she cared about fans. I do NOT believe that now. I never felt it before. She has always given the vibe that the teens were okay, but the mom’s were creepy. She is a MOM and she wrote these books. Perhaps she is over the price of fame. Then let’s go back in time and get a refund. She can go off into her happily ever after, without limos, famous people, and private planes. She is a very wealthy woman who comes from an already middle America background. This was not a rags to riches situation. She can not possibly imagine a life without private schools. Her life was already grand by many people’s standards.

I still love Twilight and the friends that it brought into my life, as for the author… I’m done.

Beth

The authors you reference don’t have a SHITTON OF HATE thrust on them by critics and the media. She took a lot more negativity than JK Rowling ever did. Apples and oranges. In fact, apples and a fruit from another planet that we all only had once and half the population hated, and the other half loved but keeps bitching that there’s not more.

robine

It is not apples and oranges, that’s silly, they are all successful authors.
JK Rowling dealt with all sorts of negativity. People attempted to remove her books from schools. She was lambasted, by right wing groups, for stating that Dumbledore was Gay. Her life was turned on it’s ear.
I’m certainly not, “bitching”, about the lack of more Twilight. I’m upset at her attitude towards something that made her very wealthy. Some people had to scrimp and save to buy the Twilight items that fleeced her pockets. Any PR person would say she handled this interview poorly. You maintain professionalism and move on.
I take issue with her (3 paragraphs on a blog) statement. If she was misquoted she needs to say so. If she wasn’t, she needs to explain herself.
She is a Public Figure. She makes her money from her popularity, or lack there of. If she doesn’t like that, she needs to find another line of work. If she enjoys being a producer or writer she needs to put her big girl panties on and deal.

Beth

Still, not the same. JK Rowling got flack from RIGHT WING GROUPS. Who takes those seriously in the industry or even in popular culture? Stephenie got flack from other authors, from Stephen King, from entertainment professionals, from the actors in her own adaptation, from readers, from literary critics. There are entire college classes devoted to deconstructing how poorly written her books are. The movies are generally considered the worst by hipsters, professionals, and most dudes. THAT is very different than some fundamentalist book burnings (which is practically a badge of honor).

Stephenie said the other day, “No I didn’t read it” with regards to Fifty Shades of Grey and the media called her out for “dissing” EL James, for “refusing to read it” and for “screwing professional courtesy.” That’s an overreaction, right? And yet … her comment was a lot more tame than say … the ones you just made above, and contained no judgement.

and she said as much about the critics and how hard it is to take on her blog today!

robine

I will not be responding to this any more. You are entitled to your thoughts on this matter. I disagree, but feel no enmity towards you girls. This topic is not worth any emotional energy. I merely felt sad for those who feel betrayed, as they spent hard earned money on this woman’s books, dolls and trinkets. Her apology was lack luster. It came across as haughty and condescending. “Those lovely people.” Yuck. Those are HER people. Those are HER fans. Serious authors have serious feelings about their characters and fans. The fans have taken a tremendous amount of flack in their personal lives for loving this series, why should the author be exempt. She should have been the biggest advocate and protector of her fans. That never happened, not once. If my comments above are viewed as wild, you might need to get out more. As for my feelings about what I read and spend my money on? I am judge and jury.

Yeah. No. I get it. Whilst I can’t say I’m “over” Twilight, as it’s still my happy place, I can say I’m over the obsession of it. I don’t live and breathe it (or things that have to do with it (movies, LTT, etc) any longer. I even sometimes see a Volvo and not think “Volvo!” like a Slug Bug find in my head. I KNOW, right?! Blasphemous! But I too must admit, my Twilight goggles are fading, but that’s alright. It’s like you can’t stay in the early “honeymoon” stage of love forever, it’s not sustainable.

It’s been TEN years (and a hell of a decade it was) but after TEN years of hearing nothing but the same thing, even if you loved it insanely as I’m pretty positive Stephenie did) I’m sure anyone would be ready to stop hearing the exact same questions and answering the exact same thing over and over like a broken record. and really just everything always having to be about Twilight…. I’d be ready to move on too.

Ahem, I mean: I don’t understand! How could she turn on her fans like this!?

TeamJacobEdward

I stand corrected. I just forgot Taylor’s last name. It’s official. I’m over Twilight too.

Luludee

Yesterday I could not for the life of me think of Charlie Bewley’s name. I’m surprised it came to me now. My friend’s boyfriend looks like him and I was going to comment about it in Facebook, but then thought better of it.

TeamSeth

Yeah… good self restraint on that one 🙂 If I said that, it would basically be saying, “Just as an aside, I want to and have imagined having sex with your boyfriend.” #awkward

Luludee

hahaha, well I thought that in my head. 😉

And actually, he doesn’t really look like him, it’s just in that particular picture he looked like him from Like Crazy, which is perhaps the best he’s ever looked, so yeah.

Bubs

TJE ! How could you forget ??? It’s Lautner ! And let’s face it Jacob was waaaay hotter than Edward :-]
I can’t imagine EVER being over Twi. No more Midnight Sun…..whaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh !!!!

TeamJacobEdward

Okay. So you’re right, I have to admit I’m really not over Twi (like I said in a different comment, it is still my happy place) but I swear sat there for a full minute unable to come up with Launtner. All that came to me was Black. 🙂 It had me second guessing myself.

TeamSeth

Alpaca. How could you forget THAT?

Luludee

I’m still waiting for her to write a story about mermaids. Woman could create a whole new world of legend and myths! It’s a mostly untapped market. That’s what I’d bug her about at functions for other things 😉

TeamJacobEdward

She could make me want to read a book about mermaids. I mean, she got me to read a book about vampires and I never thought that would happen either. She has magical powers with words.

Lorena

Oh my god, I really want to read a story about mermaids now. But they better be less annoying than Ariel and not include this human-mermaid theme (yawn). The film would be sooooo good. Shirtless mermen the WHOLE time.

booklover76

I don’t mind her moving on. I expect her to move on. And I know it must be tiring for every interviewer, etc. to bring up Twilight. But you know what? Get use to it. That’s going to happen. You don’t think authors, actors, directors, etc. who’ve had long, distinguished careers don’t have that one project that follows them everywhere they go for the rest of their life. It happens. But maybe, like Stephanie Meyer, it’s the one that gave you what you have now, that’s enabling you do even be called a “film producer.” That allows you to even move on to something else. Yes, Twilight is done. And so apparently is Robsten. And there are no more books or movies and after November no more DVDs. And I’m fine with going onto other things and being grateful for what Twilight gave me. But no matter how tired you get of hearing it, you smile (even through gritted teeth) and you speak fondly of Twilight, of the fans who got you here and gently remind the interviewer that you’re so excited to be working on your new project. But unfortunately that’s not what SM is doing. It’s not what she did when she forced the thousands of fans at Comic Con last year who camped out for days to just say goodbye to Twilight to spend a big part of their last Twilight panel watching an incoherent clip of scenes from The Host. That’s not what she’s doing when she talks about using three paragraphs in her blog to tell fans “which characters died.” I don’t begrudge her moving on and I understand her frustration. But its not good PR to diss the ones who got you here. I’m sure the backers of Austenland are hoping she brings all those Twilight fans into the theater for this film. Not likely if she can’t be gracious about the last 8 years of her life, no matter how frustrated she is. Vent that frustration to friends, in a journal, to your agent…ANYBODY…ANYBODY BUT THE MEDIA!

BeaDee

Yay! I saw someone going “OMG Stephenie hates us now” over on Hypable and almost got out my nasty comment keyboard. But then I breathed and thought of Beth’s anti-Fandom Drama advice. And decided I didn’t need to because I knew you’d write this piece! Saving me so much effort, as alway.
The poor Meyer. Her own fans are so high-strung and willing to crucify her, let alone how outsiders talk about her. It wouldn’t be my happy place either.
And now for my crazy: We’re never going to get Midnight Sun! Waaaaaaahhhhhh!
And that’s totally her prerogative.

Lorena

I still quote that gif…. YOU HAVE NO RELEVANCE! (lolz 4eva) Beth is the best.

bad_persephone

I must also be over it because I missed all the drama. Obviously she is going to move on from the franchise isn’t that what her ‘all’ her ‘fans’ would want her to do? Doesn’t everyone want her to have continued success and to grow as an artist?

If you look at the whole situation even with the slightest objectivity the story she created and loved to talk about a share is a job she has to talk about it it as a chore or obligation now to talk about Twilight. No matter how much you love your job would you do it for free or in your spare time?

Melissa Twilightlover

This all makes me sad. Fans turning on each other; we can all have our opinion. I hope she was trying to be funny or trying to get back to the focus of the interview ( Austenland) but it did, as reported, come across a bit harsh. We will never get Misnight Sun ever and that is the darkest kind of blasphemy!!!!

Lilz

Why is this not surprising to me? The entire franchise just kind of petered out at the end. I guess Summit was “over” marketing, and the powers that be were “over” putting meaningful extras on the DVD sets, or on the overpriced new box set. I am not surprised SM is “over” Twilight. Figures. To each her own, but in my opinion, not the smartest interview she’s ever given if she plans to continue writing books, producing movies, or parlay her Twilight-backed fame into other projects. I appreciate her need to move. But there is a way to do it and this is not it. Nobody can hold a grudge like grown women who have spent hard-earned money and time defending the right to enjoy a book series for the last 8 years or so. So, good luck SM–your fandom may now be “over” you.

AMEN. Thank you! I absolutely knew what Stephenie meant as soon as I read it yesterday. She’s a class act, and seems like a wonderful person.

Sam

I think the people who are getting upset by this quote are the crazy ones who got tattoos of Edward’s head, decorated their entire house in Twilight, and wear the Rob Pattinson pj pants. Who can blame the woman for getting tired of something when it is all around her all the time? 20 years from now she will still be getting the same questions everytime she is interviewed. I am excited for Austenland and any future projects she has.

Oilily Sepperl

Honestly: I don’t even care what Stephenie Meyer says about Twilight nowadays. I love Twilight, I love Rob, I love Twilight fanfiction and I met and still meet incredibly nice people through my love for those “things”. So…she can say what she wants. My feelings don’t change because of this. And she’s a free person who can say what she wants about her work. Doesn’t everybody complain about work? Because that’s what it is in the first place. A work of fiction which earned her a lot of money. I’m grateful for her work, but otherwise I don’t care about her opinion on it.

airwolfflannery

I have her solution she wants twilight gone forever here is what she should do SELL THE RIGHTS TO TWILIGHT GET RID OF IT ONCE AND FOR ALL THEN SHE WOULD NEVER BE BOTHERED WITH IT AGAIN!